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Crain’s Chicago Business: ComEd fell below outage standard in 2012

CUB’s eager to see ComEd launch “smart grid” improvements that benefit consumers, but the latest headlines show that tackling Illinois’ power grid problems won’t be easy. In 2011, the General Assembly allowed ComEd to increase its delivery rates over the next decade to pay for $2.6 billion in “smart grid” improvements to the…...

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T-Mobile offers new phone payment plan

John Legere is at it again. The quirky T-Mobile CEO, who likes to call his own industry “stupid, broken, and arrogant,” has introduced yet another promotion that we hope takes the wireless industry at least a baby step closer to its customers. On the heels of his new “Jump” plan, allowing customers to upgrade…...

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CUB contest: Name that cartoon!

This cartoon will be featured in the upcoming issue of The CUB Voice–our quarterly paper newsletter for CUB members. Come up with a caption of your own and submit it here by noon, Friday, August 2, and you could win a smart power strip to help cut down on your electric bills!…...

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Hanover Park utility bill clinic: $132 per year in customer savings

CUB’s outreach team is always on the road, visiting cities, towns and villages across Illinois to hold clinics that show consumers how to save money on their utility bills. This week was no different–CUB staffers Laura Goldberg, Ivonne Hernandez and Yami Newell took to Hanover Park and showed consumers how…...

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CUB boss calls AT&T out on bad info, phone giant says “Oops!”

When you’re part of a small consumer watchdog group fighting for the rights of 12 million Illinoisans, no job is too small. So when it appeared a consumer was getting bad information from AT&T, the boss himself stepped in to help. James Wiersum of Lombard reached out to CUB recently, saying…...

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Good news for Peoples, North Shore Gas non-heating customers!

As a Chicago renter who only uses natural gas to cook, I’ve often asked, “Why is my bill $50!?” I only use a few therms a month, and gas prices are in the neighborhood of 50 cents a therm—relatively low compared to past years. I’m hoping that’s about to change.…...

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Win up to $900 of free electricity!

Presence Health is partnering with CUB in a contest encouraging Illinois consumers to go green and lower their utility bills. Here’s how it works: Community members and Presence Health employees can sign up for CUB Energy Saver—that’s CUB’s free bill-cutting service—as a member of any hospital’s energy-saving team. At the end of summer,…...

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What’s the best “energy song” of all time?

[youtube=https://youtu.be/vtPk5IUbdH0] Ever hum “Electric Avenue” when you pay your power bill? Find yourself singing “The Power of Love” while programming your thermostat? Maybe the “Electric Slide” isn’t just reserved for wedding receptions, it’s what you do on the way to turn off a light bulb. If so, we’ve got a contest…...

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Nicor customer refunds beginning this month

This month, Nicor Gas will begin issuing $72 million in refunds ordered by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) following a 10-year legal battle waged by CUB and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office. Nicor says the average homeowner will receive a total of about $30 paid out over the next 12…...

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Demand better from Big Cable!

It’s easy to get frustrated scrolling through your cable TV lineup. First, there’s probably nothing on. Second, you’re likely paying good money for all of that nothing. A CUB survey on cable TV indicates more than 78 percent of consumers are frustrated with their cable provider—mostly because of pricing. Another 90 percent…...

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